Archive for March, 2011

How I became a Lynyrd Skynyrd Fan

Sunday, March 20, 2011

From Skyn Deep:
I am 39, so I don’t remember anything before the Plane Crash. Growing up, I loved Sweet Home Alabama when I heard it on the radio. I didn’t know anything about the artist performing the song other than it was Lynyrd Skynyrd and I thought that was a person.

In 1987, they came to town. I lived in Detroit then. I owned no recording by them except for SWA, which I had taped off the radio. A lot of publicity was generated by the tribute tour of course, and it was my Cousin Jon who explained to me that it was a band not a person and that this was a special tour because there had been a plane crash and this was a tribute to the original band featuring the original singer’s brother on vocals. I thought that was really a cool thing because I had never heard of someone’s sibling stepping in to take over for someone like that. I didn’t see this 1987 show because it was long sold out, but the local paper did a write up on the band and its history with a couple of pictures and a thorough explanation of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s history. I wanted to know more about the band and its music, so I persuaded my Mom to take me to “Harmony House”, a local record shop and I spent some allowance money on the tape “Gold and Platinum”. After we were done shopping at the mall, we went back out to the car and I popped in the tape. I clearly remember Down South Jukin’ came on and Mom thought it was pretty funny that I would like this kind of music because it was kind of on the country side, but she liked it. However, when the next song came on, I’ll never forget it-it was Saturday Night Special and Mom reached over and cranked that sucker up!!!!
She said “Hey! This music’s ok with me!” and she just rocked and rolled to it! By week’s end, I knew all the songs by heart and I hit this used record shop in my neighborhood where I could just walk there and over the next 3 or 4 months, by buying used tapes and records, I basically had all the releases. I had the hits already from my first purchase, but it wasn’t enough, I wanted all the album tracks too. I even found a copy of the Rossington Collins Band, the interview with Red Beard album AND the King Biscuit Flower Hour. Best of all, I taped the Volunteer Jam 1987 off the radio and had that too. It sounded good to me, and then Southern By The Grace Of God came out. That Holiday Season, my Grandma bought me a copy of Legend, and that too, just blew my doors off. In particular, the song Four Walls Of Raiford, which is what I always pull out when I make the case that Ronnie was one of the greatest song writers of all time. It was a very moving song. And then…..The band came back to my area in June of 1988 so I got to see my heroes live. That was a very special night that I never forgot. Over the years, Lynyrd Skynyrd music has aged like fine wine to me, it just sounds better and better and better over time. Its very heartwarming to talk to so many old time fans and also younger people who can’t remember them, but have gotten into their music just the same. Long Live The Lynyrd Skynyrd Band!!!!
So how did you get into the band? Sign up at Lynyrd Skynyrd Dixie and tell us in this thread:
http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3111